Mencius depicts Sage Shun’s balanced mind. He felt fully at peace enduring plain food in poverty, yet stayed unperturbed amid royal splendor after ascending the throne, undisturbed by either humble or glorious external fortunes.
Chan Master Chongxin of Longtan Temple in Lizhou was born to an unnamed pastry vendor in Zhugong. Exceptionally bright as a youth, he encountered Monk Daowu — secretly invited by Lingjian to lead Tianhuang Temple — who then dwelled unrecognized by the public.
Master Zhaozhou Congshen was a highly influential Chinese Chan Buddhist master of the Tang Dynasty. A key disciple of Master Nanquan Puyuan, he is celebrated for his profound yet unconventional wisdom expressed through paradoxical actions and dialogues (koans).